Groundhog Day

About Groundhog Day:

Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2nd. It is believed that on this day the groundhog comes out of winter hibernation and looks for his shadow. If he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, there will be an early spring. The earliest known American reference for Groundhog Day was in 1841 in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. Currently, the official groundhog for this day is Punxsutawney Phil. He lives at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where the official Groundhog's Day celebration takes place each year.

Fun Facts:

• Groundhogs can whistle when they are alarmed.
• Some call the groundhog the "first weather man".
• Groundhogs are a member of the squirrel family.
• The movie "Groundhog's Day" came out in 1993.

Activities:

• Practice making hand shadows on the wall
• Write poems about the groundhog's predictions
• Create stick puppets and act out the shadow ceremony
• Make picture frame with foods that groundhogs eat